Even The Lone Provincial Who Enters Engoyan Ifrazlim Leaves Himself There

Even people on other continents. That night, Penneram Densos requested Dirant's presence in a more compulsory manner than Audnauj had. “Only out of necessity,” the senior Ritualist apologized, if that counted as an apology in his country. “My Divine Guidance (Hunch) is shaking my guts up. It says you've accomplished something, Dirant Rikelta. Am I right to believe in it?”

“There is some progress.” Dirant summarized the situation. “It ought to be simple from here to find the Picker, and as for what to do with him, we must raise the cow before we may milk it.”

“That's true. I know some colleagues working to change that, but it stands for now. Think of the economic gains if they succeed. My own research has turned up something, by the way. Let me tell you about it, even if it doesn't affect your role, because I think it's interesting and I'm older than you.

“Our patron isn't one to leave holy relics around, but I don't see any reason not to make use of those left by messier gods. There is reputed to be a globe that shows the planet as it spins. I don't mean a model, but the actual thing, clouds and all. Only recently did people realize what it was. I think that relic's just the scabbard for this sword, the net for this fish, the witticism for this social occasion. It's on Dosoroz and not on Egillen where the best Pickers live, so that calls for some thought about how to get the one next to the other, but there are those cows again with their milk. There isn't much point in talking about it at all, but I needed to have some news to match yours. It doesn't match it though, does it? That wasn't a genuine question and you don't have to answer.”

A compliment such as that, coming from so distinguished a person, could have moved someone more impassive than Dirant. Normally the only encouragement people like him got from people like Penneram Densos was hearing they were coming along well enough, not too bad if one made allowances for the younger generation. Truly, Dirant realized, the real reward of a good deed came in getting recognized for it. That sounded a little askew morally, but it had the very moral trait of honesty to recommend it. After a short discussion of lighter matters such as the weather and whether a ritual to strengthen a tree branch might have wider industrial applications, Penneram released Dirant back to Akkagafwarrefo.

Stadeskosken resumed its journey to Engoyan Ifrazlim the next day, as did Audnauj with his retinue, but not together. Perhaps it was the incessant rivalry both peaceful and violent between Dvanjchtliv and Adaban over mastery of the continent that prevented him from riding among the Kitslofers when even Jalpi Peffu had no hesitation in doing so, or perhaps there was a more proximate cause in Onzalkarnd's insistence that his master avoid crowds and other kidnap-friendly environments. The spectacle of two distinct groups of foreigners might have seemed suspicious, risible, or unnerving on remoter Defiafi roads depending on the whether the spectator's preference in fiction ran toward thrillers, comedy, or historical, but closer to the capital travelers packed the routes so densely that a few Adabans and Redrins stood out as much as hay in a haystack.

Engoyan Ifrazlim itself was nearly as hidden. Among the countless towns and villages attached to the twin lakes like suitors swarming around the debuting daughters of society's favorite family, the capital's boundaries were clear only on municipal maps. Even there, old jurisdictional disputes and technicalities left the city looking like a drink spilled on a table. Or like Greater Enloffenkir for that matter. Within the city limits was more of the same, more of the polished domes that made the place seem a second sun placed on the earth and the graceful curves which reminded mankind that elegance, durability, and functionality could be considered opposed to one another by the unskilled alone. Also more of streets the residents used as impromptu warehouses that wound around rickety wooden shacks piled one atop the next which threatened to topple over and take out any bystanders who took a walk at the wrong time. The appeal of Asajvridz to the well-heeled set became clearer with every step.

Silapobenk reported to the local official whom his paperwork designated and was informed of multiple locations where Stadeskosken might conduct its business within that sprawling metropolitan area, whereupon he and his subordinates spent a few hours choosing the site and warning Dirant not to disgrace the company while he traveled unsupervised. “Unfortunate,” the convoy's boss said. “I lose two of my people here. I've been instructed to allow Stansolt Gaomat to depart on some confidential errand. I count on you both to do something useful.”

Silone appeared to be mystified as to the reason behind his instructions regarding Stansolt. Perceiving that, Dirtwo and Silfour exchanged communicative looks. Did Haderslant have his own underhanded plan, or had the Kitslof government made a request? Perhaps Sivoslof itself had some influence on the matter, and soon some lucrative contract from there would enrich Stadeskosken yet more. Neither gave voice to those theories, however. Silone could ask if he wanted their opinion.

His last duty in Yean Defiafi done, Dirant took his leave from the trade mission with plenty of handshakes and well-wishing. Stansolt Gaomat also participated, for all that certain members of the expedition surmised he would have preferred to skulk away, unseen. Millim Takki Atsa joined in despite not being an employee, simply because of the friendly atmosphere.

One point bothered some of their co-workers. Onsalkant Stiskenhalpt held up his company-provided abridged educational material. “Will you be all right in Redrin without one of these to guide you through the etiquette?”

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“Certainly,” Dirant averred. “The Yumins will tell me how to behave, I will conclude they are lying and seek clarification from Lord Audnauj's chief attendant, and so all will be well.”

“You're almost as smart as your father,” Onsalkant praised him.

Dirant at last walked to the rendezvous point arranged with Audnauj. He would have ridden, but his horse belonged to the company. The Redrin lord traveled with enough of those to spare one or five for a guest anyway.

“Here's the itinerary,” Audnauj said when Dirant and his maid arrived. “Onzalkarnd, tell them the itinerary, would you?”

“Certainly, my lord. We will head around the southern shore of Safsaubyai Mipyan and follow the Sijvaskinyai River east. Regrettably, none of the riverboats are equipped to handle horses, but every veteran traveler insists this is nevertheless a swifter route than riding directly to Redrin across the rough northern country, or rather southern from our current perspective. From the river we will proceed to the port of Uviuvi, where a horse transport will be awaiting my lord's advent. That will take us to Gwin Gardalihm and home. From there we have a leisurely journey across the country to Fyalang Gardalihm where we will embark for Dwecosptichdeu in Lesser Redrin on a vessel belonging to the great Olzenchipt Stavripdeu family. Thence we head a short distance south to the Chunawm Metals facility.”

Neither of the foreign addons had anything to say in the way of either complaint or improvement, and so the Redrin contingent set out that very day. Once past the city limits, probably, the newcomers learned the full significance of what Dvanjchtlivs meant by “leisurely” when Audnauj began doing handstands on the saddle and swinging himself perpendicular to his steed.

“You may think he's showing off.” Hugal came up beside Dirant and Takki.

Eyanya caught up on the other side. “But it's worse. He just does that. It's normal for them.”

“I have bad news for both of you. My time with you will not be long enough for me to stop considering what your master is doing impressive.” The grooms groaned at Dirant's dispiriting revelation.

Hugal took it hard. “That is bad news. You're probably right, which means we don't have enough time for Master Audnauj to fall for a non-evil woman for once like we hoped would happen if Takki came along.”

Dirant tried to sound sympathetic yet firm. “There was never any chance of that. He had opportunities for such all his life. Has not Eyanya here been with him for over a year?”

“That doesn't count,” Eyanya insisted. “I'm the worst there is. Grr!”

Hugal leaned over toward Dirant, the most daring equestrian maneuver Yumins were likely to attempt for the journey's duration. “She's telling the truth. Once there was a call for volunteers to help Yumin immigrants from other countries acclimate to our spelling standards. One hour a day for a month they asked, but this incorrigible specimen did two hours. She couldn't be stopped. We tried.”

“A terrible situation,” Dirant commiserated. “It was right of you to try.”

The grooms rode forward to check how their charge was holding up under the casual stunts of its energetic rider, giving Takki a chance to ask about what they had been discussing. “I hope to get Yumin (Basic) out of this trip, after all. If you helped me with some context, that would speed things up for me.”

“They were, as usual, discoursing on Lord Audnauj's terrible judgment in selecting romantic pursuits.”

Takki looked forward at the carefree, innocent-faced young noble. “Is it really so bad?”

“Yes. It must be admitted I have only the testimony of his servants as evidence and cannot of my own knowledge say anything about the ladies involved. Perhaps the wrongdoing is always on Lord Audnauj's side. I say that only to sound fair-minded and reasonable.”

“So that's how it is. But shouldn't his family come in for some criticism? If they raised him wrong, they should at least try to cover up that sort of thing.”

“Is poor taste so great a fault in Pavvu Omme Os? Redrins have their own conventions when it comes to courtship, I suppose. Without a pamphlet to guide me through that dangerous terrain, I dare not attempt it.”

“Yes, I see that. We shouldn't come up with theories just to make ourselves come off as more worldly than we are.” Takki allowed the conversation to lapse, but in the end, watching Dvanjchtliv horse tricks could not satisfy her desire for entertainment. “Then tell me about courtship in Greater Enloffenkir. How do you Adabans do things?”

“Ah, as to that, I may perhaps offer a few words. My father allots the process the same amount of attention as ordering from a catalogue or hiring a new maid, and with that attitude he has married three times. It is different for my generation. We are not so brusque and businesslike. When I attended classes at Todelk University, the young men there ever moaned, complained, wrapped their sorrows in vines, and generally gave themselves wholly to sentiment while nothing was accomplished. I recall instead of actual courtship only failed attempts and questionable poems on the subject. You will not believe me when I tell you the milieu was such that once a girl dumped me whom I never met. I was informed of this via a third party. It was after that incident that I began to suspect the world contains only a small number of actual people. The rest are phantasms that manifest only to vex them. I realize as I say that my overriding purpose ought to be to guard against becoming one of those phantasms.”

Takki nodded along. “A worthy aim, but I think which are which may be subject to flux. For instance, we all know Adabans are fake, but my father in his work keeps trying to make them real.”

“I must thank him for that. When may I see him?”

“Did those pamphlets discuss the romantic customs of Pavvu Omme Os?” Takki was no longer looking at Audnauj, Dirant, the road, or anything in particular.

“No, and we were discouraged from inquiring further.”

She relaxed a bit. “Oh, how practical.”

“Of course, in Greater Enloffenkir,” he went on as if he had not noticed, “before contemplating marriage, we must seek permission from the intended's parents. That is, unless it is our objective to provide material for the romantic serials which have become so popular.”

“Then you were teasing me!”

“I was, and I consider myself justified in doing so after you began talking about courtship and so. If you disagree, I must concede immediately and offer as tribute exactly what Hugal and Eyanya said along with some clarification on points of diction and grammar so far as I understand them.” She accepted the concession, unjustly he thought, and while she had not learned Yumin (Basic) by the time Audnauj's cortege reached the coast, she could be pleased that her personal translator improved to Yumin (Fluent): Literate; Adaban Accent (Moderate).